Breaking the Norm: Maxine Manafy, CEO of Bunndle (Part 7)

Sramana: What do you think of Sheryl Sandberg?

Maxine Manafy: I love the idea that she has stepped forward and is asking women to step up and move into leadership positions in industry. I think the structure could be louder. When I read her book and I see the advice she gives women I think it is amazing that she is telling people to step up. However, I want them to do it more.

If I am looking at a woman and you are telling me that you are going to put yourself in this box where you try to be nice as well as aggressive, reality is that something has to give. That will not work. I don’t know how you try to be politically correct and jump in the leadership role. I think what she did is needed and that more women leaders are needed.

Sramana: I’m smiling because my observation is that she is afraid to say what needs to be said. I love the fact that she has re-opened the feminist movement. I like the fact that she is doing it in a feminine way. I don’t think the pant suit is our generation of feminism. I believe in feminine feminism. I think she is afraid to take on the real issue which is that highly educated women in middle age are dropping out to raise children. It is happening in large numbers, but she pussy foots around that issue.

Maxine Manafy: Do you have an answer for the women who are choosing between career and family? Is that even necessary?

Sramana: This is not a choice as long as you are doing a job. Balancing between a job and a family is not that hard. Balancing between a career and a family is very hard. If you are trying to get to real leadership roles you will find that it is not that easy. You don’t get to be the president of a multibillion dollar company by attending your kids baseball games. She does it because Facebook lets her and she is the poster child. It’s not real. I have seen a lot of high powered friends’ wives who are having massive identity crisis in their middle age. They are older than me and they have given up their jobs. They are talented women. Why sacrifice talent and identity? I asked Sheryl this question in a Facebook chat and she did not touch it with a 10-foot pole. I understand that she is following her script. You cannot move her off her script.

Maxine Manafy: She has too much to lose.

Sramana: She has a lot of money and a great job. What does she have to lose? If she can’t take a chance then who can? I am very glad that she has put the issue on the table. I just want her to use the platform more.

Maxine Manafy: Her identity is wrapped up in all of that. If she says the truth she will lose her identity and the respect she is given.

Sramana: Women in our space are faced with the issue of being able to do it all. This is an issue because women are biologically programmed to want to have children, raise children, and nurture. What is the point of fighting biology? I have chosen not to have children and that is a very rare choice. That is a choice and I have made it. Most people want to combine it all. As you know, that early stage of business building is highly incompatible with raising children.

Maxine Manafy: That was definitely a choice that I had to make. It was a key point of my life. At that point I was in my early 30’s. That was the time to get married and have children. I don’t know that I would give up my child for my startup, or my startup for my child. How would you choose?

Sramana: Somehow the situation must be dealt with. Family or someone else needs to help. I have seen it work where the entrepreneur has had parents locally to help. I don’t have that support structure here.

Maxine Manafy: I have local support but I doubt my parents would want to raise my kids. It is a very hard choice. For me it came down to that fact that while having a family and children are great, it does not define me. I don’t need that to have a fulfilled life. I hope it happens someday, but if not then oh well. I am living my dream. This is the start of my life. I don’t think most women are comfortable making that choice. It’s a big choice.

Sramana: It has been nice talking to you. Thank you for sharing your story.

This segment is part 7 in the series : Breaking the Norm: Maxine Manafy, CEO of Bunndle
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